Electric switch and lock-box therefor.



D. S. MGKENNA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH AND LOCK BOX THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1913.

1,103,525. Patented July 14, 1914,

DANIEL S. MOKENNA, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH AND LOCK-BOX THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1914.

Application filed September 8, 1913. Serial No. 788,600.

To all whom may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL S. MCKENNA,

a citizen of the United States, residing in detached therefrom.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a switch-boxinvolving a permanent shell and a removable cover with interlock ing means; and to provide a switch structure, the movement of which is controlled by a lock key which unlocks the cover. The switch also controls a bolt for locking the box cap to the box proper so that when the switch is thrown in the neutral or inoperative position the operating key may be removed and the box bolt thrown into such relation with the box parts that they may not be separated; the key being removable from the lock cylinder only when the switch arm is in the neutral position.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for breaking the circuit through the switch, when the latter is normally closed, independent of the lock mechanism, as certain conditions of operation of self-propelled vehicles may sometimes reuire. q The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved switch and lock-box withthe box cover removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the structure. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the switch mechanism in circuit-closing position, with the cover removed. Fig. 4: is a detail plan view of the shell. Fig. 5 is a detail section on line ww of Fig. 4.

In its illustrated embodiment, my invention comprises a switch-box or shell 2, which may be of metal and ofsuitable form and size, the base 3 of which is preferably of non-conducting material, such as fiber, and has perforations 4 at suitable locations for the entrance of lead wires 5 which may run to sources of electrical energy, as batteries and magneto, and to the sparking circuit of the automobile. The box 2 may be attached to the dash-board A of an automobile by bolts or other suitable 'ievices 3, preferably with the nuts inside If the box.

The box 2 is provided with a removable cap or cover 6 externally fitt-in the box, the cap having a stop shoulder 7 on its inte-' rior and adjacent to its bottom edge, which shoulder is registerable with a channel 8 formed for its reception in the surface of the box 2. The latter is also provided with an aperture 9 of sufiicient length so that the shoulder 7 will interlock with the walls of the slot 9, bayonet fashion, when the cover 6 is slightly turned on the box 2; there being other bayonet stops 10 on the cover 6 engageable with bayonet slots 11 formed for their reception at suitable intervals in the shell 2.

The center of the cover 6 is rovided with an aperture 12 with which t e escutcheon plate 13 of a suitable type of lock 14 will register, as a lock of the Yale type, having acylinder 15, into which may be fitted a key 16 operating in the usual manner upon the det-ents 17 in the lock 14.

Suitably secured upon and insulated from the inner end of the lock cylinder 15 is a switch plate 18 extending radially in one direction for alternate engagement with the contact terminals 19 and 20 of the circuit wires 5-5, one of which goes to the batteries and the other to the magneto of the electric circuit. WVhen the switch is thrown, by turning the inserted key 16, to one or the other of the terminals 19 or 20, the circuit will be closed through the ground or lead wire 5' which is grounded with the brush through the normally closed switch arm 21 pivotally related to the switch 18. The arm 21 is removable from bearing contact with its respective terminal 22 of the wire 5' by the operation of a suitable device, here shown as consisting of a bell-crank 23, pivoted at 24 upon the panel 3; one end of the bell-crank 23 havin an outwardly directed arm 25 passing t rough a slot 26 in the box 2, so that the operator, when necessary, may rock the lever 25 about the fulcrum 24 and thus open or close the circuit at the end of the arm 21 with relation to the terminal 22. This operation is particularly useful when an automobile is coasting and it is desired to interrupt the circuit momentarily without manipulating the main switch plate 18. i

It is one-of the important objects of the present invention to provide in combination with the switch mechanism'and box, means for positively locking the box cover 6 to the box 2 so that the latter can be removed only when the operator of the vehicle is present, by whom the key 16 is inserted and the cylinder 15 turned to a circuit-closing position. This prevents the surreptitious removal of the box cover at any other time and with any other means than by the authorized holder of the key. This key-locking mechanism is shown in the present instance as comprising a bolt 30 slidably mounted upon the box panel 3, the bolt having at its inner end a shoe 31 engageable by a roller 32 which is mounted upon and insulated from the adjacent end 33 of the switch arm 18, or a part movable therewith. The arm 33 swings in an arcuate path, when the switch arm 18 is moved from position to position, and the'iigagement of the actuating roller 32 with the shoe 31 causes the bolt 30 to be projected positively outwardly and automatically returned by its spring 34 as the roller moves'angularly from beneath the bolt 30.

The position of the bolt 30, with relation to the circuit terminals 19 and 20, is such that when the switch 18 is in contact with either of the terminals the bolt is retracted, and when the switch 18 is in the neutral position between the terminals 1920 and in such a position with relation to the lock 14 that the key can be withdrawn, then the bolt 30 stands projected substantially into the channel 8 of the box 2 and intervenes between the channel and the stud 7 of the,

cap 6 which has previously been shifted in the slot 9 by the slight turning of the 'cap 6 upon the box 2. Thus so long as the switch arm 18 is in the intermediate circuit breaking position and the key 16 in the position for withdrawal from the lock 14, then the bolt 30 will stand projected and prevent the turning of the cap 6 so as to carry the stud 7 toward the channel 8, the intermediate portion of which is occupied by the end of the projected bolt 30. Thus when the operator withdraws'the key 15 the switch cannot be operated and the cap 6 cannot be removed from the switch-box 2 and the possibility of closing the circuits is effectually obviated.

In operation, the operator desiring to close one of the circuits will insert the key 16 in the lock 14 and turning the key will throw the switch 18 toward one of the other of the terminals 1920, at which time the circuit-closing arm 21 is normally in' contact with its respective terminal 22, thus closing one of the circuits and simultaneously permitting the retraction of the locking bolt 30 so that the box cover 6 may be removed if desired. During the operation of the vehicle should, for any reason, it be desired to temporarily. break the circuit, the circuit breaker 21 may be thrown out or disengaged from its spring clip 22 to throw the lever 25 by footor otherwise; the circuit again being closed by throwing the lever in the opposite direction. This is done independently of the circuitclosing keylever structure 15-18.

When the operator wishes to cut out the circuit for use he simply turns the key 15 to the neutral position, bringing the switch 18 to the intermediate position between the contacting clips 1921 and simultaneouslv and positively projecting the bolt 30 to lock the cover 6 by preventing the turn thereof on the box 2 to bring the stud 7 into the channel 8.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an electric switch, a box having a channel, and a lateral aperture communicating therewith, a removable cap having a stop shoulder receivable in the channel and movable into said lateral aperture upon turning of the cap, a spring pressed bolt borne by the box to extend over said aperture to prevent movement of the stop shoulder out of said aperture, a shoe on the bolt, a pivoted switch arm, a roller on the switch arm to engage beneath the shoe to move the bolt to locking position, and key operated means for moving said switch arm to throw said bolt to locking position.

2. In an electric switch, a box having a socket. a removable cap having a part receivable in said socket, a spring pressed bolt borne by the box adapted to engage said part to hold same against movement out of the socket, a shoe on the bolt. a pivoted switch arm engaged with the shoe to move the bolt into and out of locking position, and key operated means to move said switch arm to throw the bolt to locking position.

3. In an electric switch, a box, a removable cap on the box, a slidable bolt for look ing saidcap on the box, a switch arm, means in connection with said arm to engage the bolt for moving the bolt to locking position during the movement of the switch arm to neutral position, and key operated means to actuate the arm.

4. In an electric switch, a box, a removable cap on the box, means, to lock the cap on the cover, a switch arm which actuates said locking means, key operated, means for operating the switch am, and means whereby the key of the key operated means is withdrawable only when! the switch arm is in neutral position, and the lockingmeans has been moved to locked position by the switch arm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing wltnesses.

. DANIEL S. MoKENNA.

Witnesses: Y

JOHN V. SULLIVAN, E. J OROURKE. 

